PM Kisan Samman Nidhi: 23rd instalment release today for 9.5 cr farmers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to release the 23rd instalment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi on Saturday from Tarakeswar in the Hooghly district of West Bengal. The occasion coincides with the nationwide observation of PM Kisan Utsav Diwas.

The location of the launch is being viewed as a notable administrative milestone, coming shortly after the BJP established its government in West Bengal. Observers suggest that conducting the event from West Bengal underlines a focus on direct welfare distribution and strengthened alignment between the Central and State governments.

According to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Prime Minister will execute a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) totaling more than ₹18,800 crore into the accounts of nearly 9.5 crore eligible farmers at 3.45 pm. With this latest rollout, total historical disbursements across all 23 iterations of the income-support programme will exceed ₹4.46 lakh crore.

Distribution focus: West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh

West Bengal remains a central highlight of Saturday's rollout. Minister Chouhan indicated that roughly 44.42 lakh farmers within the state will collectively receive around ₹885 crore. He pointed out that data inconsistencies and incomplete verification previously blocked many qualifying farmers in the region from obtaining these benefits. Now that these administrative clearances are resolved, the Union government aims to provide transparent and immediate assistance.

Madhya Pradesh will likewise secure a substantial allocation from this tranche. Approximately ₹1,634.88 crore is earmarked for transfer to 81.67 lakh farmers in the state. Chouhan stated that prior instalments have already directed over ₹33,721 crore to beneficiaries in Madhya Pradesh.

Seasonal support and climate contingency plans

This latest financial injection arrives at a critical juncture for small and marginal landholders, providing vital working capital for agricultural inputs like seeds and fertilisers right before the Kharif sowing cycle.

Concurrently, Chouhan highlighted that the Ministry is proactively implementing measures to mitigate potential delays in the monsoon and upcoming El Nino climate conditions. Weekly coordination meetings with state authorities and agricultural offices are underway. The administration has created targeted contingency frameworks for 197 vulnerable districts, prioritizing seed supply management, regional crop scheduling, and the transition to low-water-use crops.

Furthermore, under the PM-AASHA programme, the Center has authorised Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurements for pulses—specifically moong, masoor and urad—across Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The mechanism is structured to protect income levels if market prices dip below the established support price. Separate preparatory talks for crop procurement are also set to take place with Madhya Pradesh.